GOLF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16623, 16 April 1928, Page 12

GOLF

P.E. CLUB'S SEASON OFFICIAL OPENING FUNCTION Golfing enthusiasts in Poverty Bay consider that tho coining season "should murk a distinct advance oil tho standards of the past, so far as this district is concerned, and there was a large attendance at the official opening function held at the links on [Saturday afternoon, when the ceremony of opening tho links for play was performed by Mr. It. U. Burke, in tho absence of the president and captain. Mr. Burke's hope that the season would give them soul-satisfying golf was warmly echoed by most of thu.se present. The function was an extremely happy one, for though the links have been played upon already this year, and, in fact, a tournament has been held already, the annual opening has a social side which few of the club members care to miss. A brief ceremony on.the club verandah was followed by a mixed medal round, with results as published belosv. in tho course of his remarks upon the season, Mr. It. U. Burke .stated that it promised to be tho best and most pleasant the club ?iad ever experienced. They had had most auspicious weather conditions to date, and tho links were in better order than usual, apart from the fact that the course had been revised and brought up to a higher standard altogether. With the Triplex mower now in operation on the fairways and rough, and an excellent staff in the

greeukeeper and his assistants, the club was in a position to maintain that high standard so far as the links wero concerned; while in having secured the services of Mr. Mcintosh, New Zealand professional champion, as resident coach, the speaker felt that the executive had done something that would have a very great effect upon tho standard of play. It would be a great thing for the club if even only a few of the members learned to hit the ball as did their new coach, and tho force of his example was bound to bo for the betterment of the club. Already there was a certain improvement in the play of some members, and the handicapping committee had had the pleasure of reducing some of the handicaps. They hoped to continue this activity throughout the season, Mr. Burke observed.

On the question of finance, Mi-. Burke mentioned that about £175 had been expended in the purchase of tho now mower, and the committee had found itself under the necessity of asking the members to defray this sum. by subscriptions. To date, he stated, .only about half the sum required had been donated, and the executive would hope that members who had not already contributed would show generosity in their support of the purchase. It was obvious that tho machine was doing good work, and that they should have had it available long ago; and the speaker urged the players not to regard their donations as anything but contributions to the good of the game. There was no other golf club in New Zealand which gave such value to its members for so small a subscription, and in asking the members to put their hands in their pockets and contribute to the cost of the new machine tho club was only following a precedent well known elsewhere. In their links the club had an ideal situation, and tho speaker looked forward to the day when it would be one of the finest courses in New Zealand. Wishing the Tiicmbcrs, a highly prosperous season, Mr. Burke then declared the links officially opened. Hesuits of the medal round played during the afternoon wero n,s follow: Miss liigiyinson (25) and A. Whitehead (26), 85 nettj'Mrs. Adams (24) and A. G. Seddon (16), 80; Mrs. Boss (25) and R. F. Clare (20), 9-1; Mrs. Whitehead (21) and A. F. Salmon (14), 95; Miss O'Meara (10) and P. Barker (10), 97; Mrs. R. Willock (20) and W. 11. Irvine (17), 97: Mrs. Maude (27) and G. Turubull (22), 97; Mrs. S. Clare (15) and J. BarnsGraham (9), 98; Miss Sherratt (161 and C. O. Hansen (20), 99; Mrs. Barns-Graham (16) and. B. IJ. Burke (18), 99; Miss Nolan (15) and A, Barns-Graham (8), 100; Miss Oman (19) and J. W. Barns-Graham (14), 301; Mrs. Burnard (11) and A. J. Dixon (10), 101; Miss Miller (17) and G. Albevtson (15), 102; Mrs. Irvine (22) and F. FT. Galvin (20), 104; Miss J. Barker (25) and E. Jonkinson (16), 104; Miss M. Barker (18) and J. S. Bnrns-Braham (14), .106; Miss M.' Muir (24) and A. Blake (12), 110.